Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a senior member of staff of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Omoniyi Eleyinmi.
Eleyinmi, a faculty officer in the institution’s Faculty of Education, was abducted on Monday evening alongside another yet-to-be-identified person while returning to his residence in Supare Akoko, Akoko South West Local Council Area of the state, from work.
According to sources, the gunmen had, before his arrival, stormed his residence, after which he was seized amid sporadic gunshots while alighting from the commercial motorcycle he rode from Akungba.
One of the sources, a member of the institution’s Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), who craved anonymity, stated that Eleyinmi’s wife, who had stepped out to receive her husband, escaped by the whiskers during the gunshots.
He said: “One of our SSANU members, Mr. Omoniyi Eleyinmi, was kidnapped at his residence at Supare-Akoko. He had just returned from work when the incident occurred.
“Eleyinmi’s wife said her husband was not at home when they (gunmen) initially arrived in commando style. The kidnappers were still at the premises when Eleyinmi returned, only to be seized and taken away immediately.”
Meanwhile, a family source disclosed that the kidnappers were yet to make contact with the family, stressing that the family is already in distress over the safety of Eleyinmi.
Confirming the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Victor Akinpelumi, who stressed that the institution is collaborating with the police towards securing the release of the victim, said, “We have contacted the police, and they assured us that they have swung into action.”
While disclosing the deployment of operatives to track down the kidnappers and rescue the abducted university official, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that one of the victims had been rescued, while security agents are intensifying efforts to locate Eleyinmi.
Ayanlade, however, noted that further details on the operation remain confidential due to the sensitivity of the situation, assuring that updates will be provided as events unfold.
“They (victims) were on the bike when they were accosted at Supare. They took them away, but we were able to rescue one of the victims, and we are currently debriefing him. We have deployed the necessary asset to rescue the remaining victim.”
